Theresa Ann Opfer, 62

Theresa Ann Opfer, 62, of rural Kennard, died Thursday, Aug. 14, 2003, at Immanuel Medical Center in Omaha.

Funeral services were Monday, Aug. 18, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Bennington.

Theresa Ann (Nielsen) Opfer was born June 21, 1941, in Omaha to Elmer and Audrey (Cameron) Nielsen. She grew up on the family farm and was known to be a bit of a tomboy who loved horses.

Following her mother to different schools where she taught, she attended grade schools in Tosten, Mont., for one year, then Elk City and Rispen in Washington County. She graduated from Bennington High School in 1959.

She attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha and graduated from the University of Colorado with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree when she was 41.

On July 11, 1959, she married Mertin Opfer at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Bennington. The couple had two children. The Opfers raised their family in Washington, later moving to Colorado, then returning to the family farm in 1982. They later moved to Houston in 1986, but then retired to the family farm in Nebraska in 1995.

In addition to her love of sculpting, painting and art, she enjoyed gardening, reading, photography, crafting and travel, especially in the mountains. She also had a strong interest in genealogy. Her family will remember her as a very caring wife, mother and grandmother, and especially for teaching her grandchildren about nature, arts and crafts.

She is survived by her husband, Mertin; sons and daughters-in-law, Mark and Jennifer Opfer of Blair and Ward and Lori Opfer of Kennard; four grandchildren; sisters-in-law and husbands, Janet and Victor Romans of Winston, Ore., Audrey and Bill Shockey of Soldier, Kan., and Beverly Opfer of Omaha; brothers-in-law and wives, Larry and Clara Opfer of Elkhorn, Marvin and Glenyce Opfer of Washington County, and Dallas Opfer of Omaha.

Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society.

Hadan-Golden-Reichmuth Mortuary in Bennington was in charge of arrangements.